* Sedhuraman* *Legal Correspondent*
*New Delhi, April 4* The controversy over the three-day Chief Justices' conference falling on Good Friday and Easter Sunday has escalated with Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph declining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite for dinner today. Besides expressing his inability to attend the dinner, Justice Joseph also advised the PM not to discriminate against Christians, and rather respect their sentiments and avoid scheduling important events on holidays meant for the minority community. "I know it is too late to reschedule the events (now). But being the guardian of Indian secularism, I request your Honour to kindly have in mind these concerns also while scheduling events and benevolently show equal importance and respect to the sacred days of all regions which are also declared as national holidays," Justice Joseph said in his April 1 letter to the PM. Justice Joseph has written the letter in response to the invite for the dinner Modi is hosting for the delegates to the conference. The first two days of the conference are exclusively meant for Chief Justice of India HL Dattu, other SC judges and Chief Justices of High Courts, while tomorrow's meet would also see the participation of the PM, Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda and Chief Ministers or state law ministers. Earlier, Justice Joseph had shot off a missive to the CJI taking exception to scheduling the meet on Good Friday and Easter. In his communication to both the PM and the CJI, he has underlined the fact that no important programmes were being held on Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Eid or Bakrid. "Our religious and cultural festivals and hues, irrespective of caste and creed, have contributed to the vibrancy of our rich pluralistic culture and ethos. The whole world jealously looks at the beauty of the secular image, communal harmony and cultural integrity of our great nation. India must in these trying times, safeguard her credentials and be a model that other nations must follow," he said. Justice Joseph said he was unable to attend the dinner as he had to be with his family members in Kerala for Good Friday and Easter. The CJI had pointed out that this was not the first time that a conference was being held on these days. In fact, it had also been held on occasions such as the Independence Day and Valmiki Day. A Bench headed by him had refused to entertain a plea against the meet on these days. Attending the conference was only optional for SC judges, barring the CJI and the two senior most SC Judges TS Thakur and Anil R Dave. In view of this, number of other apex court judges were also not in Delhi and would be skipping the PM's dinner, sources said. Meanwhile, unmindful of the media focus on the controversy, the CJI and HC CJs are understood to have set the stage for tomorrow's joint conference with CMs/state law ministers to be inaugurated by the PM. They have finalised a 5-year National Vision and Mission Plan 2015-20 to take head on all the problems confronting the judiciary, including the huge pile of 3.11 crore pending cases. The plan would be discussed and adopted tomorrow. *Why SC judge is upset* - Justice Joseph had shot off a missive to the CJI taking exception to the meet on Good Friday & Easter - In his communication to the PM and the CJI, he has underlined the fact that no important programmes were being held on Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Eid or Bakrid - The CJI said it was not the first time that a conference was being held on these days. In fact, it had also been held on occasions such as the Independence Day and Valmiki Day -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
